Parliamentary Panel Meeting Postponed Amid Öcalan Visit Debate
A parliamentary commission overseeing Türkiye’s latest peace effort postponed its November 6 meeting to next week, delaying the decision on sending a delegation to meet with jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan.
Reasons for the Delay
- Murat Emir, a member of the commission from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), attributed the postponement to "technical reasons."
- The Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) claimed scheduling conflicts among government officials expected to attend caused the delay.
Proposed Visit and Support
The postponed session was expected to discuss a proposal to send lawmakers from the 51-member commission to İmralı prison island near Istanbul. This idea was introduced by the DEM Party and received backing from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
A majority of at least 31 votes is required to approve the visit.
Opposition Criticism
İYİ (Good) Party leader Müsavat Dervişoğlu criticized the discussions on November 6:
"Öcalan, the murderer, makes whatever statements and meets with whomever he wants. Can’t you see that this will cast a shadow over the assembly’s dignity?"
The İYİ Party remains the only major parliamentary group refusing to join the commission, outright rejecting the peace initiative.
Summary: The parliamentary commission’s meeting to decide on sending a delegation to Öcalan was postponed due to technical and scheduling issues, amid significant political disagreement over the initiative.